LauraVosika is a writer, poet,
and musician. Her time travel series, The Blue Bells Chronicles, set in
modern and medieval Scotland,
has garnered praise and comparisons to writers as diverse as Diana Gabaldon and
Dostoevsky. Her poetry has been published in The Moccasin and The MartinLake Journal 2017.

She
has been featured in newspapers, on radio, and TV, has spoken for regional book
events, and hosted the radio program Books and Brews. She currently
teaches writing at Minneapolis Community and TechnicalCollege.

As a musician, Laura has performed as on
trombone, flute, and harp, in orchestras, and big bands. She lives in Brooklyn
park with 5 of her 9 children, 3 cats, and an Irish
Wolfhound.

After his failure to escape
back to his own time, Shawn is sent with Niall on the Bruce’s business. They
criss-cross Scotland
and northern England,
working for the Bruce and James Douglas, as they seek ways to get Shawn home to
Amy and his own time.

Returning from the Bruce’s
business, to Glenmirril, Shawn finally meets the mysterious Christina. Despite
his vow to finally be faithful to Amy, his feelings for Christina grow.

In modern Scotland,
having already told Angus she’s pregnant, Amy must now tell him Shawn is alive
and well—in medieval Scotland.
Together, they seek a way to bring him back across time.

They are pursued by Simon
Beaumont, esteemed knight in the service of King Edward, has also passed
between times. Having learned that Amy’s son will kill him—he seeks to kill the
infant James first.

The book concludes with
MacDougall’s attack on Glenmirril, Amy and Angus’s race to be there and Shawn’s
attempt to reach the mysterious tower through the battling armies.

Interview:

Welcome Laura! Your book, The Water is Wide, sounds absolutely
thrilling! Can we begin by having you tell us the meaning of the title in
relation to the book?

Laura: There are a couple of
reasons for the title. The Water is Wide is the third in a 5-volume
story that started with Blue Bells of Scotland. The whole story centers on a world famous--and infamous--classical
musician. Think Yo-Yo Ma or James Galway with a trombone and a bad boy persona.
Shawn Kleiner's signature piece is Blue Bells of Scotland, based on an
old folk song and arranged as a theme and variations for trombone to show what
the instrument can do.

Because the story started with a
folk song as a title, I continued with folk songs. The Water is Wide is
a lament about the difficulty of getting over the water, and about love. In the
book, Shawn Kleiner, modern musician, has been trapped in medieval Scotland for more than a year. His goal is to cross time and
make amends to his girlfriend, Amy, for all the pain he has caused her in the
past--or, in this case, in the future!

Like the lyrics of the song, there
is a great divide that he must somehow cross, and like the song, the book is
also about love.

What is it that drew you to writing time travel stories?

Laura: I've always been captivated
by tales of traveling into other realms, whether that's to another world or
another time. Some of my favorite stories as a child were In the Keep of
Time and Andrew's Attic, both of which involve children going back
in time. In In the Keep of Time, four siblings go up in a castle tower
in Scotland and emerge in the 1500s.

In my story, the reader will
recognize a similar element, of the castle tower apparently causing the switch
in time--at least at first. In mine, however, two men switch places,
originally.

Can you tell us a little about the main characters?

Laura: The two main characters
throughout the series are Shawn Kleiner, modern orchestral superstar, and Niall
Campbell, medieval Highland warrior. Shawn was, in his own world, a wealthy,
arrogant, and self-centered man who liked wine, women, and gambling. Niall was
everything Shawn wasn't--devout to his faith and devoted to a cause greater
than himself.

As they share identical looks, and the Laird of Glenmirril, Niall's home,
doesn't know what to do with Shawn, they spend most of their time together,
taking turns 'being Niall.' By their second year together, Shawn has done a lot
of reflection on his former self, while Niall has begun to face his own faults.
They have moved from two men who look down on one another to friends, as they
work for Robert the Bruce in the aftermath of Bannockburn.

There are many others who play large parts in the story: Amy, a gifted
violinist and Shawn's girlfriend on whom he cheated, who is regaining
confidence in the absence of Shawn's gaslighting; Angus, the Scottish police
detective she falls in love with when she believes Shawn is dead; the Laird of
Glenmirril and his giant of a brother, Hugh; Allene, Niall's determined and
strong-minded wife; and Christina, a serene and strong young noblewoman
rescued from the MacDougalls, with whom Shawn falls in love.

They say all books of fiction have at least one pivotal point where the
reader just can’t put the book down. Can you tell give us one of the pivotal
points in your book?

Laura: I've been told this really
happens in book one, Blue Bells of Scotland, when Shawn wakes up the
morning after being left in the tower! By the time readers reach The Water
is Wide, the question are many: Will Shawn find his way home? Will he leave
Christina, who he has come to love, only to find that Amy, for whom he is
returning, has fallen in love with another man in his absence? Then, of course,
there are the adventures and dangers of medieval Scotland and the question of if and how Shawn and Niall will
survive their battles with Clan MacDougall and the English. Many readers, I
believe, love the books for their detailing of lesser known historical
incidents, too.

Can you explain to us why it was important for you to write your story?

Laura: I suspect this is true for
many authors: Shawn and Niall were simply alive in my head, as was their story.
They had to be let out. Shawn seemed to exist, fully formed, in my mind from
before I ever started writing the story. Niall, likewise, seemed to simply be
who he was, a complete and knowable personality, from the moment I 'saw' him
waking up in the same castle, in modern times.When something is that 'alive' it
demands to be written.

Final question (promise!): do you have any advice for the
yet-to-be-published writers?

Laura: Keep writing. Keep re-writing.
And find a writers critique group to get feedback on your work. My group, Night
Writers, meets every week, and has for more than 30 years now. They have been
invaluable to me in their suggestions and critiques, to help improve my writing
and the story.

Jamell Crouthers is a poet,
author, blogger and podcaster who has taken on a journey of writing in the
prime of his life. He has been writing poetry since the age of 13 but never
thought he could utilize his talent to tell stories and write books. He is not
the traditional author as he writes his books in poetry format with a focus on
storylines and societal issues.

After publishing 11 books (so
far), his goals and plans are to continue writing books on taboo subjects that
aren't discussed enough in today's world and bringing those main subjects to
the forefront. Jamell's blogs tackle societal issues, how he writes his books,
his journey as an author and some motivational blogs that will get you to focus
on your goals. His goal and moniker is, "to change the world, one book at
a time."

Average height (5'8"), athletic build but slim, short
hair with a beard.

Where are you today and what are you doing?

I watched some college football in the early afternoon, then
I went and played basketball with friends for a few hours. I came back home,
showered, ate and I'm back to watching college football.

You keep a photo album of memories from your lifetime. If
you could only keep one photo, which one would that be?

The photo of my grandmother and I when I was 4 years old.
One of my favorite pictures ever.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Definitely a night owl, I always do my most important
thinking and writing at night.

What is your favorite piece of clothing?

My NBA All-Star zip up hoodie from a few years back when the
all-star game was in NYC. I'm from NY so it holds sentimental value to me.

Do you have any phobias? What are they and how intense are
they? How have they impacted your life?

I had a fear of flying for the longest time. One time I was
flying to Jacksonville with my
godmother and my body broke out into an intense sweat, my fingers and toes were
tingling and I felt dizzy. I was able to get over my fear of flying by
preparing my body to fly, always wearing comfortable clothes, having something
to drink and air blowing on me the entire flight while in the air. I also have
to have my noise-cancelling headphones and relaxing music on at all time. It's
become a routine I do whenever I fly and it's worked like a charm.

Very much so, I always have faith in whatever I do in my
life and want to do well in all that I do.

Where is your favorite hangout?

My best friend John's house or my best friend Anthony's
house (they always have kool-aid and snacks).

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew
up?

I wanted to be a lawyer for sure. I was always into crime TV
shows as a kid, it intrigued me.

If there was one thing you could change about yourself, what
would that be?

Definitely overthinking every aspect of my life. It's
something I've gotten better at but I'm always a work in progress.

About the Series:

The Code Blue: An Oath to the Badge and Gun series chronicles a police
officer named Gary who has been on
the force for a few years. He soon is entrenched in a lot of lies, corruption,
racism and agendas being pushed by his superiors. The question throughout this
series is whether he as a good cop becomes part of the corruption or does he
report it?

Part of this series features his son Gary, Jr who is a young teenager
wanting to be like his father and go into the police force. He soon learns
through the news daily that the police force is not what it really is. Gary
ends up having to share the truths of what goes on at work and the relationship
between him and his son changes because of it. Now it becomes up to Gary
what he is going to do about what goes on at work.

Monday, October 22, 2018

““He started to stroke her when his cell phone rang.
“Boss, it’s Jones. We’ve got a situation. We got a call about a shooting up
near the seniors’ club.”
“Injuries?” asked Windflower.
“A teenager,” said Jones. “I’m on my way.”
“I’ll be over in a sec,” said Windflower.
“Bad news?” asked Sheila.
“I’ll call you,” was all he said back.
Sheila didn’t ask any more questions. They liked a layer of insulation between
his police work and their personal lives. He gave her a peck on the cheek and
patted Lady as he left to drive to the seniors’ club, hoping for the best and
fearing the worst.
The reality was somewhere in between.”

--From Darkest Before the Dawn by Mike Martin

Mike Martin was born in Newfoundland
on the East Coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa,
Ontario. He is a long-time freelance writer
and his articles and essays have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online
across Canada
as well as in the United States
and New Zealand.
He is the author of Change the Things You Can: Dealing with Difficult People
and has written a number of short stories that have published in various
publications including Canadian Stories and Downhome magazine.

The Walker on the Cape was his first full fiction
book and the premiere of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series. Other books in the
series include The Body on the T, Beneath the Surface, A Twist of Fortune
and A Long Ways from Home, which was shortlisted for the Bony Blithe
Light Mystery Award as the best light mystery of the year. A Tangled Web
was released in 2017 and the newest book in the series is Darkest
Before the Dawn.

Darkest Before the Dawn is the latest adventure of Sgt.
Winston Windflower, a Mountie who finds himself surrounded by a new family and
a new life in tiny Grand Bank, Newfoundland.
There are signs of trouble that may disturb his pleasant life, including a
series of unsolved break-ins and the lack of supports for young people in the
most trying time of their lives. But there are always good friends, good food
and the sense that if we all pull together, we can find a way to get through
even the darkest days.

Ghosts, mysterious deaths, and a new character enliven the
pages as Windflower and Tizzard and the other police officers awaken the
secrets that have been lying dormant in this sleepy little town. The deeper
they dig the more they find as the criminals they seek dive deeper behind the
curtains of anonymity and technology. But more than anything, this is a story
of love and loss, of growing up and learning how to grow old gracefully. It is
also about family and community and looking after each other. Of not giving up
hope just before the dawn.

Interview:

Welcome Mike! It’s interesting to find out how
versatile a writer you are – can you tell us a little bit about your Sgt.
Windflower Mystery Series and why you wrote it?

Mike: The Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series is
truly a labour of love. It is set in my home province of Newfoundland, on the
eastern most tip of Canada. It has
allowed me to write about that part fo the world and to populate it with
wonderful stories and characters from that part of the world. Sgt. Windflower
came out of the fog in Grand Bank one night and started telling me his story. I
was happy to write it down and share with others.

I am so excited about your latest in the series, Darkest
Before the Dawn. Can you re-acquaint us with the characters for those who
haven’t read your series before?

Mike:Sgt. Winston
Windflower is a Mountie who is originally from northern Alberta who finds
himself stationed in tiny Grand Bank. He finds the woman of his dreams, Sheila
Hillier, who is the Mayor of Grand Bank, and a cadre of friends and co-workers
that share his love of good food and good times. And then they have to deal
with the crime and a few dead bodies along the way.

Are you a detail freak when it comes to writing
your novels?

Mike:No. I am
probably the exact opposite. I do some research to get the facts right and I
have beta readers to guide me back to the path when I stray. But I write from
the creative flow and let the words stream out. Then, of course, I have to go
back and straighten out the mess.

How hard for you was it to sit down and start
writing your novel? Did you have all these ideas swirling around your head or
did it take some time before you were actually ready to sit down and begin?

Mike:Starting a
book is easy. Finishing it takes time and determination and discipline. There
are always a million ideas but getting them out of your head and onto the page
is difficult. But once I have the beginning of the story, the rest seems to
follow. As long as I stay with and write 1,500 to 2,000 words a day for a
couple of months.

Writers are often associated with loner tendencies.
Is there any truth to that? And do you need background sounds or silence when
writing your books?

Mike:I need almost
silence, but not a vacuum seal. I write my best first thing in the morning,
before the distractions of the day take me away. I have a routine and a
schedule, and I try and stick with it. If I don’t meet my word count in the
morning, I have to pick it up later in the day. And I could never write at
Starbucks!! That is way too much stimuli for me.

What makes writing mysteries so special to you? Is
there another genre you’ve toyed around with writing?

Mike:I have written non-fiction as a freelance writer and some short personal
experience stories. But I love the gentle confines of the mystery genre. There
is enough room in there for just about anybody and I like the pattern and flow
of identifying a problem or a crime and then proceeding to solve it over the
next 300 pages.

They say all books of fiction have at least one
pivotal point when the reader just can’t put the book down. What is one of the
pivotal points in Darkest Before the Dawn?

Mike:There are a
couple. But I would say that the Jerimiah Parsons accident is one place where
the story starts to grab hold and you have to keep reading until you know what
will happen. What does happen is a little mystical and certainly mysterious.

What’s next for you?

Mike:Enjoy the
book launch of Darkest Before
the Dawn. Every book is
like a child to an author. We send it out into the world with good intentions
and then we watch its progress. Once this book is safely on its journey, it
will be time to start thinking about the next Sgt. Windflower Mystery.

Monday, October 15, 2018

I called my mom, Maureen Kenner,
the day her obituary was published to see if she agreed with the tone, the
accolades, the progression. She didn’t answer; which only seemed obvious after
it went to voicemail. She died four weeks after my dad, Buddy Kenner, died.

Mom chose “Grace” as her
confirmation name and lived by that code. She spent her lifetime as a teacher
working with the handicapped, elderly, and disenfranchised. She lived like the
inspirational banners that adorned the bright walls of her Room 4 classroom and
saw possibilities in every field trip, every circle in the sand, every
Scattergories game, holiday song, night out for pizza and ice cream sundaes,
every grandchild, niece, nephew, student, and family member.

But what is “grace?”

Is “grace” strength?

My father had frontotemporal lobe
dementia and my mom, diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer only five months
later, was his caregiver. She remained steadfast even when his disease
prevented him from giving her the care she sought from a husband and partner.

Is “grace” poise? Their dreams of their retirement
were never clouded with health issues. The life they worked toward was not
there; it had changed past the point of recognizing. The reality of what they retired
to was obvious.

Is “grace” the ability to trust,
respect or remain optimistic? “Will I be ready in his time of need?” Mom worried about that all the
time. “What will happen to him when something happens to me? What’s going to
happen to me when something happens to him?” She worried that neither of them would be strong
enough to keep their vows. She had such a strong sense of accomplishment for
all they had achieved together, but it was clear that their happiest days were
behind them.

It is said in the Book Of Job, “The
Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh, Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Maybe
“grace” is found in delicate actions - when we are genuinely there for others,
putting our neighbors before ourselves, sharing in their joys and trials. I
know Mom found her joy and happiness in the joy and happiness of others. She’d
say, “When you put others’ needs before your own, it is truly in giving that we
receive.”

I believe Mom found her “grace”
through her courageous ability to ask for and to receive help. For four years, our
community rallied behind our family, nourishing us with daily visits, leis of
orchids, origami cranes, handmade cards, gift boxes, songs, and signs on our
lawn. As the seasons changed, our community remained inspired to do good for my
family. They let their spirit grow and let it make a difference, unafraid to open
themselves up to heartbreak and disappointment. When there was an abundance of
pain, and the generosity of others powered my family through to live another
day, that’s when I learned about “grace.”

About the Author

Daniel Kenner is the author of the newly published, Room For Grace. Daniel wrote Room For Grace after conducting an oral
history with his mother, Maureen Kenner, on her thirtieth wedding anniversary. Through anecdotes and hard-earnedlessons, Maureen tackles challenge after
challenge and reframes dailystruggles
with a positive outlook allowing her to transcend andconquer mortal fears with dignity and room for grace.More
information can be found at www.RoomForGrace.org.Room For Grace is partnering with
different organizations and 10% of each book purchased will be donated. New
organizations will be selected every 1,000 books sold! The first program Daniel
has chosen to donate to is Eye to Eye. Eye to Eye began in Maureen Kenner’s Room
4. The program chiseled through structure and uncovered a remarkably beautiful
approach into a child’s life. Once a week the members of Eye to Eye talked
openly about learning disabilities. Maureen always remembered when a mentor
revealed he had spent most of third grade in the bathroom. He had figured out
when it would be his turn to read and, embarrassed by his dyslexia, went to the
bathroom to hide out. Another positive aspect Maureen loved about Eye to Eye
was the classroom-based mentoring. They college students would come and work
with her “Lego” kids, the kids who saw the world in a mechanically different
way, who thought outside of the box, who could build things with their hands. Maureen’s
students were mentored and followed through middle school, high school and onto
college. Eye to Eye's mission is to improve the life of every person with a
learning disability. They fulfill their mission by supporting and growing a network
of youth mentoring programs run by and for those with learning differences, and
by organizing advocates to support the full inclusion of people with learning
disabilities and ADHD in all aspects of society. Mentors talk openly and
bravely about their experiences. Mentees realize they are not alone, sometimes
for the very first time. They see someone who was once just like they are
today. More importantly, they see someone they hope to be tomorrow.

Daniel
Kenner rocked out to Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” while other
infants sang “Mary Had A Little Lamb.” A proud member of Actor’s Equity,
SAG-AFTRA, and National Players Tour 60, Daniel was a Presidential Arts Scholar
at George Washington
University and Scholarship
recipient at The British American Drama Academy. Directed the Washington
D.C. premier of Sarah Kane’s Crave. Author
of the manuscript, Roux. Winner of the Rhode Island Playwriting Festival for
his World War II letters home drama, Fields of Sacrifice. Adapted Les
Misérables for high school stages.

Maureen
Kenner’s heart was in the classroom. For thirty-five years she was a Special
Education teacher in the Providence Public Schools. Born and raised in Dobbs
Ferry, New York, Maureen
graduated from Rhode Island College
with a degree in education and later earned a Master’s Degree from Providence
College. Maureen was a vital
influence at the Vartan Gregorian
Elementary School at Fox Point,
working tirelessly as a mentor for the betterment of all children and their
families. Honored with many accolades throughout her career, Maureen was
awarded Providence Teacher of the Year in 2003. Living with cancer, as a model
patient, Maureen exemplified integrity, courage, grace, and hope. For
thirty-one years, through sickness and health, Maureen was the beloved soul
mate to the late Jacob “Buddy” Kenner,
her intense love recognized in 2016 as a Rhode Island Caregiver of the Year.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Stage 4 cancer for her and a debilitating disease for her husband: life
crashed down in an instant. Maureen Kenner found resilience, however, in the
lessons she learned from her Special Ed students in Providence, RI. Her
students lived with their hearts opened despite struggles of the highest
magnitude. Through these students, Maureen gains courage, humor, and the
strength of spirit to face her devastating realities, head on. Maureen’s oral
history was captured by her son Daniel who tenderly wrought this book out of
their recorded conversations. Through anecdotes and hard-earned lessons,
Maureen tackles challenge after challenge and reframes daily struggles with a
positive outlook allowing her to transcend and conquer mortal fears with
dignity and room for grace.

PRAISE:

"Maureen Kenner was one of those people who brightened every room
she entered. Thanks to Room for Grace, that light is not extinguished. Although
her story shares great sadness, Room for Grace is a book of hope and a
celebration of life that sheds Maureen’s light on us all."

—Ann Hood, Author of The Obituary Writer and The Red Thread

“In these pages, you will find a story like no other. Maureen’s story is one of
courage and love, a story that will move you to your core.”

—David Flink, Chief Empowerment Officer, Eye to Eye

“The piercing light of Maureen’s compassion, love and intelligence, will leave
every reader wanting to reach out in the spirit of service and live life to the
fullest.”

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Award-Winning
Author and Speaker, Marian L. Thomas, has penned five engaging novels to date.
Her books have been seen on national television stations such as the Oprah
Winfrey Network, Ovation, and the A&E Network. She has been featured in
print magazines, newspapers and a guest on local, national and online radio
stations. For her book, I Believe In Butterflies, Marian ranked among the top
100 Most Popular Authors in Literary Fiction on Amazon. She spent most of her
teen years in Oak Park, Illinois,
but now resides in a suburb of Atlanta
with her husband. She enjoys a good bag of popcorn, a plate full of pasta, and
a grape pop.

On December 29, 1930, Mildred "Millie"
Mayfield gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Addie. Millie teaches Addie three
things that she feels matters most in life; inner beauty, reading books and
giving your “special something’ only to the man you marry. Addie lives up to
the first two. On one autumn night in 1949, Addie falls for the irresistible
red curls and vibrant green eyes of a young man from the other side of the
railroad tracks. Neither knowing that the consequences of their love would have
lasting effects. Known as one of the greatest white jazz pianists in New
York, Timmy Taylor never had a reason to question his
identity – until truth and betrayal strike. Will Timmy be able to push past the
pain? Beautiful and talented, Nina Taylor inherited her father's gift, but not
his looks. Certain that's how he made it big, she dives deep into an obsession
that could be deadly. Will Nina learn to love the skin she’s in before it’s too
late? Spanning from 1920 to 1996, this captivating tale of secrets, betrayal,
and forgiveness will pull at the strings of your heart, and keep you turning
pages while you pray for a happy ending.

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

The Code Blue Series somehow became
something bigger than me. The best way to describe it is looking at the world
now and what’s going on, on the police force. I started to question what good
cops are feeling in a position where they’re forced into upholding their badge
than their own morals and values.

When I decided to write about Gary, I knew
I had to take race out of the picture when it came to him and who he was. In my
mind, I had to say, let’s focus on the racism in America between police
officers and black and Latino men. What is not discussed is how there are black
and Latino police officers who are racist against their own too. It’s not just
white cops versus black and Latino men.

There was a need to address that in my
books but in the midst of it, you’re trying to figure out what race Gary is.
The reality is no matter what race Gary is or you choose to make him, any
police officer who commits the wrongs that I write about in my books, there’s a
lack of upholding the oath you took to protect and serve the community. It
becomes follow agendas and doing what you’re told regarding black and latino
men.

We lose a sense of the things that are
constantly going on because it doesn’t happen to us. It’s a mentality of, “if
it doesn’t happen to me, I’m good.” Well...until it does and by that point it’s
too late in addressing the constant issues that are going on in our communities
daily. Gary is the good cop who’s caught in a lot of things he never thought he
would be.

The community he grew up in and decided to
serve and protect has become a city of turmoil. I felt I had to incorporate him
having a child because there’s always someone looking up to you and this is the
prime example of it. Gary, Jr. is an innocent child who doesn’t know the
atrocities of the world until he starts watching the news at night and seeing
his father at crime scenes and wanting answers.

There was a need to make Gary, Jr. the
smart, intuitive child who is keen to what’s going on around him. That forces
Gary to fess up to his wrongdoings and admit that he’s part of the cover ups,
corruption and lies. It makes him realize he’s a hypocrite in teaching his
child to being honest and doing the right things when he isn’t doing it
himself.

The relationship between them is constant
throughout the series with a plethora of letters written to each other. I
thought of doing emails or phone calls but I wanted to go old school with their
communication before technology engulfed and infiltrated our daily lives. It’s
a relationship that becomes tumultuous and Gary ends up losing the two most
important people in his life, his wife and his son because he’s so engulfed in
a job that’s made its way into their home.

The series takes a lot to write because I
want to make sure I’m addressing the corruption while keeping Gary’s thoughts
and feelings in it. It’s a hard battle and also writing it to where it’s
believable, truthful and Gary is someone you can relate to. He’s a combination
of a protagonist and antagonist and it’s something that isn’t done often in
stories. This is to make you think about how many good cops who want to do the
right thing, this is a job that want to do but you are forced into this
brotherhood of keeping the lies, secrets and corruption among themselves.

My goal with this series is to not only
make you think and realize what’s going on in America daily, but to also put
you in a police officer’s shoes as he/she pounds the pavement everyday. Are
there good cops, definitely. But there’s also the bad ones and the biggest
problem is the good ones aren’t exposing the bad ones, afraid of the backlash,
losing their careers, their paychecks and pensions which is one of the first
things I address in the beginning of Part 1.

Hopefully you all understand and realize
that there’s a lot that has to be done to make society a better place. The
battle is exposing it all from what goes on in the streets to inside of the
precincts and corporate offices in America. It’s up to us to get things right
and remember it all starts with the guys in suits and then it trickles down to
the police departments.

Code Blue 1-3 is available on all major
bookstores (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes and Scribd). Parts 4 and 5
release December 2018 to finish the series.

About the Author

Jamell Crouthers is a poet,
author, blogger and podcaster who has taken on a journey of writing in the
prime of his life. He has been writing poetry since the age of 13 but never
thought he could utilize his talent to tell stories and write books. He is not
the traditional author as he writes his books in poetry format with a focus on
storylines and societal issues.

After publishing 11 books (so
far), his goals and plans are to continue writing books on taboo subjects that
aren't discussed enough in today's world and bringing those main subjects to
the forefront. Jamell's blogs tackle societal issues, how he writes his books,
his journey as an author and some motivational blogs that will get you to focus
on your goals. His goal and moniker is, "to change the world, one book at
a time."

The Code Blue: An Oath to the Badge and Gun series chronicles a police
officer named Gary who has been on
the force for a few years. He soon is entrenched in a lot of lies, corruption,
racism and agendas being pushed by his superiors. The question throughout this
series is whether he as a good cop becomes part of the corruption or does he
report it?

Part of this series features his son Gary, Jr who is a young teenager
wanting to be like his father and go into the police force. He soon learns
through the news daily that the police force is not what it really is. Gary
ends up having to share the truths of what goes on at work and the relationship
between him and his son changes because of it. Now it becomes up to Gary
what he is going to do about what goes on at work.

1. Nancy
Gray has been writing for ten years. She has a young adult fantasy trilogy
called Blood Rain. The series was
inspired by a very strange but true story about a storm raining blood on North
Carolina in the 1850s. After reading
about this story she had a dream about a blood splattered lighthouse which also
compelled her to write. The setting in the beginning of the book was also inspired
by the video game Bethesda’s Morrowind.

2. 2. Nancy
Gray has been married for thirteen years. She has two young children. She lives
in South Carolina and is
partial to cats. Her family comes first over her writing, but she writes
whenever she can.

3.3. Nancy is a
big fan of Japanese animation, or “anime.” She also reads manga. Her favorite
series right now is The Ancient Magus
Bride because she loves the setting and characters. She is also a fan of Darling in the Franxx but enjoys many
different styles, everything from Sailor
Moon to Dragon Ball Super.

4.4. Nancy is a
gamer. She loves table top role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons. She is both a game master and a player. She’s
written many stories inspired by characters that she’s played, but none of
these have been published. Writing character backgrounds is something she enjoys
doing in between writing novels.

5.5. Nancy
Gray is a video game fan. Her favorites are Skyrim,
Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy Tactics, Fire
Emblem, and many different Mario games. She also enjoys World of Warcraft and plays it casually
whenever possible. (She plays a combination of Alliance and
Horde.)

6. 6. Nancy
Gray loves to read. She has read hundreds of books over the years. Her favorite
genres are horror, gothic horror, fantasy, steampunk, and urban fantasy. These
are also the genres that she prefers to write the most, but she has been known
to occasionally try her hand at cyberpunk and the blending of cyberpunk with
gothic horror.

7.
7. Nancy Gray got her start
from writing short stories for anthologies.Her short horror story
"Hemophobia" was published in 2006 in the short story anthology Courting Morpheus. This story was written
under the pen name "Angela Gray." Her short horror story "Sleep Like the
Dead" appeared in the New Bedlam
Project Webzine under her current name “Nancy Gray.” In 2012 it was
put into a compilation of stories from the e-zine called New Bedlam: Town Archives Volume 2.In 2010 her short science fiction
story "Marrow" appeared in the anthology Deep Space Terror. This anthology is a
smooth blending of the science fiction and horror genres. In 2014 her short
fantasy story "Chosen" appeared in the anthology Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal Author Quest: a
Penguin Special from Grosset & Dunlap. The anthology consists of the top
5 stories from the Dark Crystal Author Quest Contest.

8.8. Nancy
Gray went through many phases before she became a writer. She wanted to be an
animator for Disney, a puppeteer for the Jim Henson Company, a veterinarian, a
marine biologist, an artist, and finally a graphic designer. After much
deliberation, she decided to go to the University of South
Carolina and acquired a BA in Media
Arts and a cognate in English. She got several jobs as a graphic designer but
eventually decided to stay at home and pursue her writing career.

9 9. Halloween
is Nancy Gray’s favorite holiday. She decorates her house thoroughly and
dresses in costume every year and throws a very large Halloween Party. Horror
movies are played in the living room and the game Rock Band is played in the back of the house. She has a large group
of friends that she made in college and usually has a pretty large group of
people who attend. (She does throw an annual pot luck Christmas Party as well,
with Christmas movies and sometimes Rock
Band, but that doesn’t tend to be as wild as it is a religious holiday for
her.)

110.Nancy
Gray is an artist and enjoys painting, drawing, and making sculptures from
clay. She doesn’t have as much time with her new writing career to pursue these
things, but occasionally she still enjoys them. Her favorite place to go is the
beach and she generally feels inspired to write, draw, and read when she’s
there when isn’t playing in the sand or water with her girls.

About the Author

Nancy Gray has published a
number of works including her middle grade series Spine Chillers. She also published her YA fantasy series Blood Rain. Her short story “Chosen”
appeared in Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Author Quest: a Penguin Special
from Grosset & Dunlap. Her work also appears in various anthologies.

Nancy Gray has been writing for
over ten years. Gray lives in South Carolina with her husband and two
daughters. She enjoys books, video games, anime, manga, and horror.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Jane is ecstatic when she
gets the role of Red Riding Hood in her school play, but she didn’t realize
that they’d be using the stuffed wolf prop as the Big Bad Wolf. That tattered
old prop has always scared her and, lately, she has been having strange dreams
about it that make it seem like it’s something more.

Jane will have to get help to
save herself from the hungry spirit that has haunted her people and her
nightmares before it consumes her, or worse, escapes the prison of the last
creature it took to sate its horrible appetite.